Public Affairs

Public Affairs

For over 100 years our attorney team has long served as advocates and advisors for clients.

We recognize the need for businesses to focus on growing and protecting their operations and assets.  With the ever-changing policymaking and regulatory landscape in Madison, businesses need a voice and a team to advocate on their behalf even if the State Capitol is hundreds of miles away.

Given our diverse client base, we understand advocacy needs are unique and specific to a business or industry. As a result, our approach is tailored to understanding goals and crafting a strategy designed to achieve a client’s public affairs objectives.

Services offered by our team include:

Monitoring and Bill Tracking: Thousands of bills are introduced each legislative session; Ruder Ware will monitor and track specific topics or proposals as they relate to an area of client interest.

Advocacy: Ruder Ware’s Public Affairs team divides their time between Madison and Eau Claire and is poised to utilize our relationships to advocate positions to lawmakers and state leaders.

Association management: From annual events and Capitol Advocacy Days to association publications and press releases, we can assist with amplifying members’ voices and enhancing an association’s benefits.

Ruder Ware has a long history of effective public engagement and community involvement. This has afforded the opportunity to cultivate meaningful relationships in state and local government, campaigns, media, and the private sector.

  • A past president served as Secretary of the Department of Financial Institutions, chair of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, and served as a member of the Public Service Commission of the State of Wisconsin where he was ultimately appointed Chairman.
  • Our previous Government Relations Director transitioned into an Assistant Deputy Secretary position with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
  • Our current Director of Public Affairs held positions in both state and local government. Most recently, he served as the government relations director for a taxpayer association, where he represented the diverse interests of that group’s statewide membership in the State Capitol.

Founded in 1920, Ruder Ware provides business, employment, estate planning, and litigation services. A full-service law firm, over 45 attorneys provide clients with a one-stop approach to their legal needs. Ruder Ware, Business Attorneys for Business Success.

Capitol Connection icon branding all public affairs communications.
  • Capitol Connection, October 2024

  • Capitol Connection, December 2023

  • October 2023: Three Issues of Interest In and Around the Capitol

Capitol Connection Newsletters

Capitol Connection, November 2024

Posted on November 25, 2024 by

The ever-changing landscape of state government requires businesses across all industries to stay informed on the happenings in Madison. Welcome to the November 2024 issue of the Capitol Connection. In this issue: Election 2024: State Legislature DNR Approves Enbridge ‘Line 5’ Permits State Schools Superintendent to Propose Over $4 Billion Increase for K-12 Aids Gov. […]

August Constitutional Referenda to Decide Who Spends Federal Funds

Posted on July 25, 2024 by

Statewide ballot referenda are not new to voters in the Badger State. There are four scenarios in which a question may be directly asked of voters: whether to amend the state’s constitution; ratification of a law extending the right of suffrage; nonbinding advisory question to measure public sentiment; and, ratifying a law that was passed […]

Capitol Connection, June 2024 Recap

Posted on July 2, 2024 by

The ever-changing landscape of state government requires businesses across all industries to stay informed on the happenings in Madison. Welcome to the June 2024 Recap issue of the Capitol Connection. Inside this issue Vos Recall Denied by Elections Commission Renowned Pollster Visits Ruder Ware New K-12 Literacy Vendor Selected Wisconsin Policy Forum: More FoodShare Recipients […]

More Insights...